KYIV: More than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been charged under desertion laws since the Russian invasion in 2022, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. The mounting issue of troops abandoning their posts is exacerbating challenges for Ukraine’s military as it fights to reclaim and defend territory.

Desertion has left significant gaps in manpower at the front lines, military officials say, compromising defensive strategies and accelerating territorial losses. Entire units have reportedly walked away from combat zones, with some soldiers citing trauma, exhaustion, and frustration over bleak prospects for victory.

“This problem is critical,” said Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Kyiv-based military analyst. “This is the third year of war, and it will only grow.”

Deeply Rooted Challenges

The desertions highlight systemic problems within Ukraine’s military structure, including inadequate troop rotations, insufficient psychological support, and the pressures of an aggressive mobilisation campaign.

Nearly half of the deserters were reported in the past year, following a controversial mobilisation drive aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s fighting force. However, officials acknowledge the program has struggled to meet its goals, with an estimated 4,000 troops missing from the front lines in September alone due to injuries, deaths, and desertions.

Some soldiers, haunted by the traumas of war, fail to return after medical leave. Others defy orders during active engagements, leaving defensive positions exposed. Such incidents contributed to the loss of Vuhledar, a hilltop town Ukraine had defended for two years, in October.

“The percentage of deserters has grown exponentially every month,” said an officer from the 72nd Brigade, which suffered significant losses in Vuhledar due to desertions.

Psychological and Emotional Toll

Soldiers describe the relentless psychological strain of war. One deserter, who left his unit after medical leave, recounted the horrors of witnessing friends killed under heavy fire.

“You realize that any second, it can happen to you,” he said.

Another soldier, Serhii Hnezdilov, publicly announced his desertion after five years of service, citing broken promises of demobilisation. “Without an end term, military service turns into a prison,” he said.

Balancing Justice and Compassion

Military prosecutors and commanders reportedly prefer not to press charges against deserters, opting instead to persuade them to return. However, the State Investigative Bureau has pursued cases when soldiers repeatedly go AWOL.

Defense attorneys argue that psychological conditions often drive desertion. “Almost no healthy people are left in the infantry,” said attorney Tetyana Ivanova.

While the Ukrainian General Staff has promised psychological support for soldiers, many feel it is insufficient. The ongoing crisis underscores the human cost of prolonged conflict and the urgent need for systemic reforms to support Ukraine’s military forces.